Forgotten Manchester United man Amad got his loan to Sunderland back on track a fortnight after being dropped to the Championship side's Under-21s group.
Black Cats boss Tony Mowbray had criticised the winger earlier this month as he struggled to make an impact in the second tier, following a loan at Rangers last season. After playing one game for Graeme Murty's development squad, in a 1-0 defeat by Leeds United, Amad returned to Mowbray's senior set-up.
He was handed a start on Saturday when Burnley visited the Stadium of Light, lining up on the right wing. His recall to Mowbray's side resulted in him delivering the perfect response to being dropped down to the development squad.
That response was almost immediate, as Amad opened the scoring just 16 minutes into the Championship clash. Alex Pritchard's run opened up space for Jack Clarke on the left, with the winger then laying the ball off to Amad.
The United loanee, who was on the 2022 Golden Boy shortlist, found himself in acres of space, with the Burnley defence having been sucked towards the ball. And with his first touch, the winger wrong-footed Clarets keeper Arijanet Muric to roll the ball into the near-post.
The Black Cats remained on top in the first half, with Daniel Neil doubling their lead four minutes after Amad's goal. But things fell apart for the hosts after the break, with Burnley scoring four goals to claim all three points.
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Amad's goal does suggest he is listening to the advice that vastly-experienced boss Mowbray has been giving him. When he was dropped to the Under-21s, Mowbray revealed his main complaint with the winger was his reluctance to shoot.
"We need him to shoot more. It’s something I tell him every single day. It's almost as if he wants to score a brilliant perfect goal. He feints to shoot, sits somebody down, skips past the next one, faints to shoot and the goalie dives and he rolls it in the corner," he said earlier this month.
"He's in the middle of the box on his favoured left foot ten yards out. He has just got to smash that in and he waits for the defender to come so he can skip past him. He has to learn and we have to keep telling him. Football is a game of repetition and trying to create good habits.
"He's on that journey with us and probably why he is out on loan from his parent club, because they need to teach the players that if you get a chance in tight games at the top level, you have to take your chances. Not just look good, you have to be good.
"You’re judged by the stats, the goals, the assists. Not how many nutmegs or dribbles you have so he’s a young boy learning his trade. I think it’s good that he’s out there trying to do the job. He is a good finisher when he wants to be. He’s just a bit reluctant to pull the trigger."
